Child Trafficking Grows In Florida

Published January 11th, 2013

Loading Video...

GAINESVILLE - "It's not right for little kids. "Autrell Willis of Gainesville resident tells me. He says he can't understand how the sex trafficking of children is happening in his own backyard. "It really does make you mad, because come on now... That girl is only 14. How could you do something like this to some person?"

Bertram Harrison of Palatka plead guilty to sex trafficking a 14 year old in Gainesville. And witnesses like his sister testified in his favor, saying that his actions weren't like his character. But he's still going to prison.

At the Federal Courthouse in downtown, Gainesville, the judge sentenced harrison to 13 years in prison. That's 3 more years than the minimum sentence of 10 years. He will also be under supervision for life and registered as a sex offender as well.

Richard Tovar the founder and current president of "fight" a non-profit in gainesville fighting against sex trafficking says the problem is more common than people think. "This is not just something that happens in some like really poor country in southeast asia, it's happening here in Gainesville," Tovar says.

According to the "Florida Department of Children and Families," in 2009 there were 43 cases of child trafficking. However that number jumped to 427 cases in 2011.

Tovar says more children are being used because the demand for sex is higher than the supply. "We're focusing on the pimps, we're focusing on prostitution itself, but what we should be focusing on is the buyers... People that are actually going out there and buying sex," Tovar says.

As passionate about his work as Tovar is. He also hopes the community can take a stand by helping fight this battle. Tovar says, "There's plenty of organizations here you can get involved, like with us fight. Victim groups, like the child advocacy center, and children's home soceity. There's places people can volunteer, do something."

Fight will be holding a justice week in Gainesville from February 4th-9th. The non-profit's goal is to bring awareness to sex-trafficking. For more information check out their website: http://FightSexTrafficking.org/